Earth is being moved once again at the White Oaks development, and it’s not for anything that’s already been publicly announced. Earlier this week, Woody Thrasher – the caretaker and principal of the development – said the work going on is setting the stage for new business.
“The earth being moved in that particular area is for a retail strip center,” said Thrasher.
The area in question is below the Holiday Inn Express and just above the recently opened Courtyard by Marriott. The majority of the earthwork is complete for the new retail building.
The building will cover 14,000 square feet. Thrasher said there will be eight bays for business locations. That, of course, leads to the question has any business signed on?
“It’s somewhat premature in nature since we’re just starting, but the correct answer is that we have not signed anyone. At the same time, I can tell you that we do have one tenant that is almost certainly coming that has not officially signed anything.”
When pressed, Thrasher wouldn’t divulge the type of business that is likely coming. He did say that it’s retail, but that it’s not a restaurant.
The site prep work is being handled by the Green River Group. The company, which is out of Morgantown, has done previous work at the sprawling development along Interstate 79.
“I know it’s a cliché to say if you build it they will come, but when you look around and see all the activity going on, I think in this particular case they will most certainly come,” Thrasher said. “I’m very confident about that.”
A contractor to do the actual building has not been selected. However, that decision will likely have to come soon if Thrasher plans to meet what it appears to be an extremely aggressive timeline. Thrasher, who has met aggressive timelines on earth work for the ongoing Dominion project and the relocation of his own engineering, architectural and survey company The Thrasher Group, said he plans on having the building up and ready by April 1, 2015.
Additional earthwork that is taking place across the road is prep work for the Hawthorn Suites that recently signed an agreement to go into White Oaks. That will make the fourth hotel at the development.
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